Anchor plate securing method for vehicle seat cargo

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method for restraining cargo securely in or on a vehicle seat. In particular, the invention relates to a method for anchoring a strap, cord, or cable to the vehicle seat which secures and restrains cargo in or on the vehicle seat. The method secures cargo to a vehicle seat having a rear by anchoring a strap to the vehicle seat. The method includes channeling or threading the strap through a wedge-shaped slotted portion communicably attached to an anchor plate, the strap being tightened around the cargo, whereby the anchor plate bears against the rear of the vehicle seat, thereby securing the cargo to the vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method forrestraining cargo securely in or on a vehicle seat. In particular, theinvention relates to an apparatus and a method for anchoring a strap,cord, or cable to a vehicle seat, which in turn secures and restrainscargo in or on the vehicle seat.

2. Background of the Related Art

As a matter of safety of driver and passengers as well as to preventpotential damage to equipment or belongings, it is important tothoroughly secure, fasten, or restrain cargo being transported in or onthe seats of a vehicle. Securing cargo to vehicle seats has beenpreviously accomplished in a myriad of ways, including the use ofexisting vehicle seat belts, ropes, or bungee cords. However, for anyseat in a vehicle, there is no more than one seat belt, and quite often,the positioning of the seat belt and associated buckle or shoulderharness does not easily lend itself to thoroughly secure or restraincargo being transported in or on the seat. Seat belts themselves havebeen designed and tested with the idea of maximizing the restraint ofhuman beings, and not cargo, occupying the seats of the vehicle in theevent of accident, impact, sudden stopping, or swerving of the vehicle.

In addition, seat belts represent point restraints that typically do notdistribute the force of impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle over anabsorbing or dampening area or volume. Instead, seat belts impart theforce of impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle ultimately to pointson the vehicle chassis and/or vehicle body. A common type of seat beltis known, in fact, as a three point system and there is little restraintuntil inertial effects are exhibited as a result of impact or suddenstopping of the vehicle. Furthermore, most seat belts today do notcompletely secure or restrain cargo during general transport or prior toan impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle. Other means of strappingcargo, including ropes and bungee cords, do not necessarily offer properrestraint of cargo since strong and convenient attachment locations forsecuring these means thereto may not exist or may not be in a suitablelocation within the vehicle.

Without complete and constant restraint of cargo in or on the vehicleseat during transport, it is therefore possible for that cargo to shiftposition or tumble, even when the vehicle is going around a very mildturn, and especially if that cargo is top heavy and the vehicle ismoving at high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forsecuring cargo in or on a vehicle seat in addition to, or instead ofusing a seat belt.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for securingcargo in or on a vehicle seat that uses the dampening action of the seatcushions during a sudden stopping of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forsecuring cargo in or on a vehicle seat having a secondary fail-safemethod for securing that cargo in the event of material failure duringsudden stopping of the vehicle.

One advantage of the invention is that it can secure cargo directly inor on a vehicle seat.

Another advantage of the invention is that it can be used with bucketseats or bench seats in a vehicle.

A further advantage of the invention is that it can be used with straps,cords, cables, or seat belt-like webs.

Yet another advantage of the invention is that it can be easilyinstalled to secure cargo in or on a vehicle seat.

One feature of the invention is that it includes holes or slots withwhich to thread straps, cords, cables, or seat belt-like webstherethrough.

Another feature of the invention is that it includes an anchor platethat can be brought to bear against the upright cushion and the bottomcushion of a vehicle seat while securing cargo in or on the vehicleseat.

A further feature of the invention is that it includes converging slotsin a wedge-shaped region attached to an anchor plate to allow for alocking action to occur on a strap, cord, cable, or seat belt-like webthreaded therethrough in the event of material failure.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of an apparatus for securing cargo to a vehicle seat witha rear by anchoring a strap to the vehicle seat, comprising: an anchorplate; and wedge-shaped slotted means communicably attached to-theanchor plate for channeling the strap therethrough, wherein the strap isarranged to secure the cargo placed in the vehicle seat in such a mannerthat the anchor plate bears against the rear of the vehicle seat,thereby securing the cargo to the vehicle seat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of a method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat having abottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat having a rearcomprising a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of thebottom cushion, comprising the steps of: threading a strap through awedge-shaped slotted region communicably attached to an anchor plate;passing the strap through a gap between the bottom cushion and theupright cushion of the vehicle seat; placing the anchor plate againstthe rear of the vehicle seat; and securing the cargo to the vehicle seatwith the strap, thereby making the anchor plate bear against the vehicleseat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of an apparatus for locking a strap, comprising: a plate;and a wedge-shaped plug formed by converging slots for threading thestrap therethrough, the wedge-shaped plug communicably attached to theplate with a breakable portion therebetween, wherein under Sufficientforce applied to the strap, the breakable portion will break, therebywedging and locking the strap between the wedge-shaped plug an aremaining part of the plate.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision Of an apparatus for anchoring a strap to a vehicle seatwith a rear, comprising: anchoring means for bearing against the rear ofthe vehicle seat; and securing means communicably attached to theanchoring means for securing the strap, wherein the strap is one ofattached to, secured to, and tightened around cargo placed in thevehicle seat to make the anchoring means bear against the rear of thevehicle seat, thereby securing the cargo to the vehicle seat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of a method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat having abottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat having a frontand a rear, the rear comprising a lower portion of the upright cushionand a back of the bottom cushion, comprising the steps of: passing ananchor plate with a strap attached thereto from the front of the vehicleseat to the rear of the vehicle seat through a gap between the bottomcushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat; fastening the cargowith the strap in the vehicle seat; placing the anchor plate to span thegap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicleseat; and tightening the strap to secure the cargo and to make theanchor plate bear against the rear of the vehicle seat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of a method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat having abottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat having a rearcomprising a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of thebottom cushion, comprising the steps of: attaching a strap to an anchorplate; passing the strap through a gap between the bottom cushion andthe upright cushion of the vehicle seat; placing the anchor plateagainst the rear of the vehicle seat; and securing the cargo to thevehicle seat with the strap, thereby making the anchor plate bearagainst the vehicle seat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of a method of dampening the force of stopping a vehicleon cargo placed in a vehicle seat in the vehicle, the vehicle seathaving a bottom cushion, an upright cushion, a front, and a rear, therear comprising a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of thebottom cushion, comprising the steps of: passing an anchor plate with astrap attached thereto from the front of the vehicle seat to the rear ofthe vehicle seat through a gap between the bottom cushion and theupright cushion of the vehicle seat; fastening the cargo with the strapin the vehicle seat; placing the anchor plate to span the gap betweenthe bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;tightening the strap to secure the cargo and to make the anchor platebear against the rear of the vehicle Seat; and dampening the force onthe cargo during stopping of the vehicle by the anchor plate causing thecompression of the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicleseat.

These and other objects, advantages, and features are accomplished bythe provision of a method of making an anchor plate with slots for useto secure cargo in a vehicle seat, comprising the steps of: aligninginjection mold plates having means for forming the anchor plate withslots; mating the injection mold plates; heating the injection moldplates; injecting molten plastic within the injection mold plates toform the anchor plates with slots; cooling the injection mold plates;opening the injection mold plates; and removing the anchor plate withslots once formed from the injection mold plates.

To help ameliorate the problems associated with firmly restraining cargoin or on a vehicle seat, or to enhance the use of seat belts therefor,the present invention involves an apparatus and method employing ananchor plate with a strap, cord, or cable, and uses the vehicle seatitself. The apparatus and method of the present invention includes ananchor plate with strap, cord, or cable threaded therethrough that spansthe gap provided by the space or margin between the seat upright cushionand the seat bottom cushion of the vehicle seat. The invention impartsforce on the vehicle seat during impact, accident, or sudden stopping ofthe vehicle, or while traveling around a curve of sufficient radius orat high enough speed, and prevents tumbling or disengagement of thecargo secured in or on the vehicle seat by the strap, cord, or cable.

The apparatus is made operational by having the strap, cord, or cableattached to an anchor plate, and positioning the anchor plate at therear of the vehicle seat. One way to position the anchor plate would beto pass it through the margin or space between the seat upright cushionand the seat bottom cushion to be located to span the gap formedtherefrom. Once positioned, the anchor plate would press against thisseat upright cushion and seat bottom cushion and therefore bear againstthe rear of this vehicle seat while thoroughly securing cargo in or onthis vehicle seat by this strap, cord, or cable. In order to work, theanchor plate would not necessarily have to be passed between the seatcushions as above. Instead, the strap, cord, or cable may be passedthrough the aforementioned margin or space. With cargo thereby secured,the forces of impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle are transmittedfrom the cargo to the strap, cord, or cable, which in turn transmitsthese forces to the anchor plate. The anchor plate further transmitsthese forces to the vehicle seat upright cushion and seat bottom cushionwith the anchor plate pressing against and secured thereto, followed bytransmission of these forces from these vehicle seat cushions to thevehicle frame through the vehicle seat. In operation, the apparatus canuse the dampening effect of the seat cushions to dampen the force ofimpact or sudden stopping of the vehicle upon the restrained cargo orthe apparatus itself.

The anchor plate is constructed with specially designed anchor plateslots and anchor plate material or plug of material therebetween asdescribed below over which the strap, cord, or cable is threadedtherethrough. The distinctive features of the design provide anadditional margin of safety in the form of a secondary fail-safe lockingmechanism in the event of material failure or disjoining between theanchor plate slots. Specifically, the anchor plate slots and the anchorplate material or plug of material therebetween define a wedge-shapedcross-section. Upon material failure or disjoining of this plug ofmaterial from the rest of the anchor plate during impact or suddenstopping of the vehicle, this secondary fail-safe locking mechanism willcause the strap, cord, or cable to be wedged or locked against theunbroken portion of the anchor plate or anchor plate slots. The wedgingor locking action will prevent slipping of the strap, cord, or cable,and thus maintain the cargo in or on the vehicle seat secured andrestrained thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of the back of the anchor plate having convergingslots and wedge region or wedge-shaped plug of material, wherein thisback faces rearward in the vehicle relative to both the secured cargoand the rear of the vehicle seat when the anchor plate bears thereonwith straps, cords, or cables restraining this cargo.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show sectional perspective views cut along section A--Aof FIG. 4 of the opposite side, the front which faces the rear of thevehicle seat, of the anchor plate relative to FIG. 1 to more perfectlyillustrate the converging slots with the wedge region therebetween.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view corresponding to section A--A of FIG. 4 ofthe anchor plate.

FIG. 4 shows a direct front view of the anchor plate with typicaldimensions indicated thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional end view along section A--A of FIG. 4 to betterillustrate the converging slots and wedge region of the anchor platewith typical dimensions indicated thereof.

FIG. 6 shows the anchor plate with converging slots and wedge region inposition spanning the gap or margin between the upright seat cushion andthe bottom seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and the installation of thestrap, cord, or cable threaded therethrough.

FIG. 7 shows the wedging or locking action of the wedge region of theanchor plate on the strap, cord, or cable threaded therethrough aftermaterial failure during impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a method for making the wedge region of the anchorplate with an arrangement of molding pins.

FIG. 9 illustrates the steps involved in making the anchor plate byinjection molding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a view of a back 101 of a flat orcurved anchor plate 100 made of plastic, metal, or composite material,and sized substantially four inches wide by six inches long by 1/2 inchdeep. The view faces rearward in a vehicle, or in general, away fromboth the cargo being secured(not shown) and the back or rear of thevehicle seat or seat assembly (not shown) when anchor plate 100 issecured thereto with strap, cord, or cable 280 (not shown). Strap, cord,or cable 280 is secured around, through, or otherwise to secure thatcargo in or on the vehicle seat 200 (not shown). Strap, cord, or cable280 may also be made at least in part a solid bar member. Anchor plate100 has converging anchor plate slots or holes 120 and anchor platewedge region or plug of wedge-shaped material 140 therewithin.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, sectioned perspective views of the opposite side,i.e., front 201, relative to the view depicted in FIG. 1, of anchorplate 100 are shown to more perfectly illustrate the convergence ofconverging slots 120 with wedge region 140 therebetween. As illustratedin FIGS. 2A and 2B, converging slots 120 are defined by surfaces 125 and135 and wedge region 140 is defined by surfaces 125 and 145therebetween. Strap, cord, or cable 280 is threaded through slots 120around wedge region 140 (not shown), or is otherwise permanently ornonpermanently attached thereto by any means known to the art, and isused to restrain cargo in or on vehicle seat 200 (not shown).

In a typical use, anchor plate 100 with attached strap, cord, or cable280 is passed from front to rear through gap or margin 220 (not shown),formed by seat assembly 200 (not shown) comprised of vehicle seatupright cushion 240 and seat bottom cushion 260. Anchor plate 100 isthen positioned to span the space or margin of gap 220 to thoroughlyanchor, secure, or restrain cargo (not shown) to seat assembly 200 andplaced therein or thereon by using attached strap, cord, or cable 280.

FIG. 4 shows a direct front view of anchor plate 100 with typicaldimensions indicated thereof.

FIG. 5 shows an oblique sectional projection along section A--A of FIG.4 to better illustrate converging slots 120 with wedge region 140therebetween of anchor plate 100, again with typical dimensionsindicated thereof.

FIG. 6 shows anchor plate 100 with converging slots 120 with wedgeregion 140 therebetween in position spanning gap 220 between uprightseat cushion 240 and bottom seat cushion 260 of vehicle seat 200, andthe installation of strap, cord, or cable 280 threaded therethrough.

In use, anchor plate 100 with strap, cord, or cable 280 threadedtherethrough, or otherwise permanently attached thereto is passedthrough gap 220 from front to rear of seat assembly 200 and securedthereto to span gap 220 by tightening strap, cord, or cable 280 around,through, or otherwise to cargo (not shown) in or on seat assembly 200.Alternatively, strap, cord, or cable 280 could be tightened around,through, or attached otherwise to a container (not shown) in or on seatassembly 200 containing cargo or used to contain cargo therein.

Anchor plate slots 120 are made or shaped to provide a wedge-shapedcross-section of anchor plate material or plug of material 140therebetween with slots 120 converging toward one side, front 201, ofanchor plate 100 for strap, cord, or cable 280 to be threadedtherethrough, or otherwise permanently or nonpermanently attached. Plugof material 140 thereby provides a secondary fail-safe locking mechanismin the event of material failure or plug of material 140 disjoining fromanchor plate 100 upon extremely forceful impact or sudden stopping ofthe vehicle. In particular, in such disjoining event upon impact orsudden stopping of the vehicle, plug of material 140 with strap, cord,or cable 280 threaded thereover, or otherwise permanently ornonpermanently attached, will wedge into the nondisjoined part ofconverging slots 120. In other words, plug of material 140 will wedgeagainst surfaces 135, or into the remaining unbroken part of anchorplate 100, with strap, cord, or cable 280 therebetween, and therebyprovide a wedging action or locking feature to prevent slipping ofstrap, cord, or cable 280. In so doing, that cargo remains secured in oron vehicle seat assembly 200 and does not tumble or become disengagedtherefrom.

In order for the secondary fail-safe locking mechanism to work, it isrequisite that width w (FIGS. 1, 5, and 8) of each one of convergingslots 120 be substantially at most 104% of the thickness of strap, cord,cable 280, although width w may be narrower than strap, cord, or cable280 if strap, cord, or cable 280 is compressible (i.e., in the instantcase width w<100% of the thickness of strap, cord., or cable 280). In adifferent embodiment of the invention, width w may also be wider thanstrap, cord, or cable 280 (i.e., in this instant case width w>100% ofthe thickness of strap, cord, or cable 280) if portions of plug ofmaterial 140 overlap portions of anchor plate 100 as discussed below(also see FIG. 7), or if a compressible or noncompressible insert isplaced around or next to the portion of strap, cord, or cable 280 withinslots 120 to make up for the width difference between slots 120 andstrap, cord, or cable 280 (not illustrated). In a further embodiment ofthe invention, width w of slots 120 is equal to the width of strap,cord, or cable 280. Also, converging anchor plate slots 120 formsubstantially a 45 degree included angle relative to each other as shownin FIG. 5, i.e., angle a+ angle b ≈45 degrees in FIG. 5, although anyangles may be used for angle a and angle b as long as 90 degrees>anglea>0 degrees and 90 degrees>angle b>0 degrees. Also, angle a and angle beach are measured relative to a normal to the anchor plate 100 as shownin FIG. 5.

When wedge-shaped plug 140 is in the fail-safe position after materialfailure as illustrated in FIG. 7, opposite sides of each of convergingslots 120 bear against strap, cord, or cable 280 threaded therebetween,thereby producing a locking action on strap, cord, or cable 280 toprevent slipping. Facilitation of this locking action is made possibleby arranging anchor plate 100 and wedge-shaped plug 140 so that flangedportions a and a' of plug 140 overlap flanged portions b and b' ofanchor plated 100, respectively, across the respective portions ofstrap, cord, or cable 280 threaded therebetween as shown in FIG. 7.Although overlap of these flanged portions a and a' over b and b',respectively, is ideal, this is not a requirement for a workingapparatus, as long as slots 120 are converging and the threaded portionsof strap, cord, or cable 280 are compressible in their respective slots120. With slot width substantially at most 104% of the thickness ofstrap, cord, or cable 280, this latter working arrangement is quitepossible.

As is known to one skilled in the art, when anchor plate 100 is made ina molding process using the conventional method for making slots likeslots 120, flange portions a and a' will not substantially overlapflange portion b and b', respectively- In the conventional moldingmethod, oppositely directed pairs of corresponding pins are used in themold to form slots like slots 120. FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of pins310 and 320 used to make a slot like slots 120 in a molding process. Theincluded angles c and c' of pins 310 and 320, respectively, aresubstantially 45 degrees plus no less than 4 degrees. Pins 310 and 320are brought together in the molding process in the directions of thearrows in FIG. 8A, and have substantially identical shape in thevicinity of overlap or contact region 330. The angle of the slot, suchas angle a or angle b above, is determined by the sloped faces 340 and350 of pins 310 and 320, respectively. The angle measured between themating faces 3.60 and 370 of pins 310 and 320, respectively, and thedirection of motion of pins 310 and 320, respectively must be no lessthan 4 degrees as shown in FIG. 8B. This is so that mating faces 360 and370 will meet each other in proper position with zero relative motion toprevent sliding against each other when pins 310 and 320 are moved fullyinto the molding position. As discussed above, in the conventionalmolding process illustrated in FIG. 8A, flange portions a and a' do notoverlap flange portions b and b', respectively, but the locking actionon strap, cord, or cable 280 (not shown) will still occur in the eventof material failure because the molded slot width of slot 120 issufficiently.

A method of making anchor plate 100 for use to secure cargo in or onseat unit 200 is shown in FIG. 9 and includes step 400 for aligninginjection mold plates having at least one pair of pins for forminganchor plate 100 with slots 120; step 410 for mating those injectionmold plates; step 420 for heating those injection mold plates; step 430for injecting molten plastic within those injection mold plates to formanchor plate 100; step 440 for cooling those injection mold plates; step450 for opening those injection mold plates; and step 460 for removinganchor plate 100 once formed from those injection mold plates. Theprocess may be automated or repeated to make many samples of anchorplate 100.

Anchor plate 100 must have sufficient stiffness and strength to allowthe forces of impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle to be transmittedthereto during deceleration and to be further transmitted to vehicleseat upright cushion 240 and bottom cushion 260 of seat assembly 200.Dampening of these forces may occur due to the compressibility of seatupright cushion 240 and bottom cushion 260 if they are compressed byanchor plate 100 during impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle. Anchorplate 100 must also be of sufficient Stiffness and strength to withstandthe aforementioned wedging action of plug of material 140 with strap,cord, or cable 280 thereover in the event plug of material 140 disjoinsfrom anchor plate 100 upon such impact or sudden stopping. Much of thestrength of plug of material 140, and indeed anchor plate 100, dependson the cross-sectional area A of plug of material 140, where plug ofmaterial 140 is communicably attached on either side to walls 170 asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5.

Strength and stiffness of anchor plate 100 is also provided by webs 180and walls 160, 170, and 190 shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4. In the eventof an extremely forceful impact or sudden stopping of the vehicle,anchor plate 100 is designed to have plug of material 140 disjoin beforeany breakage or fracture occurs to webs 180 or walls 160, 170, and 190.In this way, the aforementioned wedging action of plug of material 140would ensue properly.

In one embodiment of the invention, the composite material forminganchor plate 100 is polycarbonate.

In another embodiment of the invention, the composite material forminganchor plate 100 is a plastic epoxy resin.

In another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280 has atleast one portion that is a solid material member.

In another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280 is asolid material member.

In another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280 is acomposite material member.

In another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280 is aplastic material member.

In another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280 is abar.

In still another embodiment of the invention, strap, cord, or cable 280is a seat belt-type web.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a stack of plates likeanchor plate 100 is used to secure cargo in or on seat unit 200 insteadof a single anchor plate 100.

In still another embodiment of the invention, slots 120 aresubstantially parallel instead of converging.

In still another embodiment of the invention, a stack of plates likeanchor plate 100, with at least one containing therein converging slots120 and at least one other containing therein instead slots like slots120 that are substantially parallel to secure cargo in or on seat unit200 instead of a single anchor plate 100.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 has twopairs of converging slots 120 with respective wedge-shaped plugs ofmaterial 140 therebetween.

In a further embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 has threepairs of converging slots 120 with respective wedge-shaped plugs ofmaterial 140 therebetween.

In still a further embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 hasfour pairs of converging slots 120 with respective wedge-shaped plugs ofmaterial 140 therebetween.

In another embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 has a pluralityof pairs of converging slots 120 with a respective plurality ofwedge-shaped plugs of material 140 therebetween.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the length of anchor plate100 is substantially the same as the width of vehicle seat assembly 200.

In one further embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 has anadjustable length.

In still one further embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 hasan adjustable width.

In still another embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 has atleast one other plate placed either in front of, or behind anchor plate100 in operation and having one or more longer slots in the horizontaldirection than slots 120 in anchor plate 100, wherein anchor plate 100can be slid horizontally along this at least one other plate beforestrap, cord, or cable 280 is secured around, through, or otherwise tocargo placed in or on seat unit 200.

In yet one further embodiment of the invention, anchor plate 100 is madewith all webs and walls substantially 1/8 inch thick and with allfillets and rounds having radii substantially 5/80 (=1/16=0.0625) inch.

Numerous and additional modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced Otherwise as specifically claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of securing cargo in a vehicle seathaving a bottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat havinga rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back ofthe bottom cushion, comprising the steps of:channeling a strap at anangle through a convergent region communicably attached to an anchorplate; passing the strap through a gap between the bottom cushion andthe upright cushion of the vehicle seat; placing the anchor plateagainst the rear of the vehicle seat; securing the cargo to the vehicleseat with the strap; and in response to said securing step, bearing theanchor plate against the vehicle seat to thoroughly secure the cargo. 2.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convergent region definesa wedge-shaped slotted region, and wherein said channeling step includesa step of channeling a strap through the wedge-shaped slotted region. 3.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channeling step includesa step of forming convergent strap portions in channeling through theconvergent region.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidchanneling step is accomplished with a contiguous portion of the strapand said passing step includes a step of passing two contiguous portionsof the strap through the gap between the bottom cushion and the uprightcushion of the vehicle seat.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a step of, in the event of breakage of the anchorplate, locking the strap with the anchor plate.
 6. A method of securingcargo in a vehicle seat in a vehicle, the vehicle seat having a bottomcushion, an upright cushion, a front and a rear, the rear including alower portion of the upright cushion and a back of thee bottom cushion,comprising steps of:passing the anchor plate with a strap attachedthereto from the front of the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicleseat through a gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion ofthe vehicle seat; fastening the cargo with the strap in the vehicleseat; placing the anchor plate to span the gap between the bottomcushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat; tightening thestrap to secure the cargo; and in response to said tightening step,bearing the anchor plate against the rear of the vehicle seat tothoroughly secure the cargo.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6,further including a step of channeling the strap at an angle through theanchor plate.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said channeling stepincludes a step of channeling the strap at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees through the anchor plate.
 9. The method of claim 6,further including a step of channeling the strap at a fixed anglethrough the anchor plate.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 6, furthercomprising a step of channeling the strap twice at an angle through theanchor plate.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprisingsteps ofchanneling a strap at a first angle through the anchor platefrom a first side of the anchor plate to a second side of the anchorplate, channeling a strap at a second angle through the anchor platefrom the second side of the anchor plate to the first side of the anchorplate.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tighteningstep includes a step of thoroughly tightening the cargo with the strapto the vehicle seat.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidtightening step includes a step of thoroughly tightening the cargo withthe strap to make the anchor plate bear against the vehicle seat. 14.The method as claimed in claim 6, further including a step of convergingstrap portions in channeling the strap portions through the anchorplate.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including stepsoflooping a strap around a portion of the anchor plate, and channelingstrap portions through the anchor plate.
 16. The method as claimed inclaim 15, further including a step of converging strap portions inchanneling the strap portions through the anchor plate.
 17. The methodas claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, in the event ofbreakage of the anchor plate, locking the strap with the anchor plate.18. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, inthe event of sudden stopping of the vehicle causing breakage of aportion of the anchor plate, further securing the cargo by wedging thestrap between the portion and a remaining part of the anchor plate. 19.The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, in theevent of breakage of the anchor plate, wedging the strap betweenportions of the anchor plate.
 20. A method of securing cargo in avehicle seat having a bottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicleseat having a rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion anda back of the bottom cushion, comprising steps of:attaching a strap toan anchor plate; passing the strap through a gap between the bottomcushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat; placing the anchorplate against the rear of the vehicle seat; securing the cargo to thevehicle seat with the strap; and in response to said securing step,bearing the anchor plate against the vehicle seat to thoroughly securethe cargo.
 21. A method of dampening the force of stopping a vehicle oncargo placed in a vehicle seat in the vehicle, the vehicle seat having abottom cushion, a front, and a rear, the rear including a lower portionof the upright cushion and a back of the bottom cushion, comprisingsteps of:passing an anchor plate with a strap attached thereto from thefront of the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle seat through a gapbetween the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;fastening the cargo with the strap in the vehicle seat; placing theanchor plate to span the gap between the bottom cushion and the uprightcushion of the vehicle seat; tightening the strap to secure the cargoand to make the anchor plate bear against the rear of the vehicle seatin securing the cargo; and dampening the force on the cargo duringstopping of the vehicle by compressing the bottom cushion and theupright cushion of the vehicle seat with the anchor plate.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising a step of channeling the strap atan angle through an anchor plate.